Dispenser with detachable trays and cup

ABSTRACT

An article dispenser having a detachable base, one or more detachable trays, and a detachable cup. The base, tray, and cup have corresponding cylindrical sidewalls to permit vertical stacking, attachment, and rotation. The tray consists generally of a hollow cavity for storing articles such as pills or vitamins and an outlet appendage through which the articles may be dispensed. Stacking a tray atop the base and then turning the tray with a clockwise, rotating motion guides the tray to a centered position and secures it to the base. The base, one or more trays, and the cup may be stacked in this manner to assemble the device. Rotating a stacked and secured tray further clockwise, beyond its centered position, reveals the tray outlet appendage and enables the user to dispense a loaded item. Conversely, rotating a stacked and secured tray counter-clockwise, beyond its centered position, releases the tray and enables it to be removed from the stack and filled. The cup is configured to contain and dispense liquid for drinking, thus aiding in the act of consumption.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is most closely associated with container devices that store, organize, and dispense articles such as medications and vitamins. The invention also relates to the field of pill containers with drinking cups. However, the potential fields of use for this invention are myriad. The more obvious applications are mentioned simply as a means of providing full and complete disclosure of the invention's elements and features. A comprehensive listing of all possible fields to which this invention may be applied is limited only by the imagination, and therefore, is not provided herein.

2. Background of the Invention

According to a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association in January of 2002, roughly 80% of all adults routinely take at least one type of medication. Among adults over the age of 45, more than 30% of men and 40% of women take five or more medications each week. In addition, persons of all ages are consuming vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbal remedies, and various types of weight loss supplements. Approximately 40% of adults take some form of supplement on a daily basis and many take several. For many persons, this regimen can be onerous and burdensome to manage. Pills are usually packaged in small containers with screw-type lids or childproof caps, and by design, many of these containers are difficult to open and close. The elderly, the arthritic, and persons suffering from a condition that impairs movement of the fingers may lack the strength and dexterity necessary to operate them. Moreover, these containers are typically designed to store and dispense only one type of medication. The repetition associated with opening a container, dispensing pills, and then closing a container is inefficient and time-consuming.

Storing multiple containers and packages also consumes a significant amount of space. The small cylindrical containers used to store a single prescription drug, for example, are typically taller than they are wide and thus too unstable to be stacked. They must be positioned side by side on a shelf or countertop.

Another weakness of many pill containers is that they have limited utility. They have no capacity to aid the user with the act of pill consumption. Because pills are usually taken with a liquid such as water to ease swallowing, a user must obtain and use a separate cup or drinking glass. Such an act does not typically require much effort, but it adds time and a step to the process.

The prior art reveals several inventions that have attempted to simplify the process of storing, dispensing, and consuming medication. An early example may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,514,008 to Dorn which discloses a combination pill container and retractable drinking cup. An outer sleeve mounted to the cylindrical container body may be extended with a sliding motion, filled with a liquid, and then used as a cup. The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,804 to Austin is similarly compact and portable, but it functions as a convertible, disposable device. The invention consists of a paperboard package that contains a quantity of pills. A portion of the package may be removed, folded and configured into a cylindrical shape, and then used as a cup.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,138 to Hornstein shows an alternative form. The invention consists of a tubular container and a collapsible drinking cup. The cup is comprised of nested, concentric segments that must be extended and fitted by hand. The container portion is large enough to accommodate a plurality of pills, but it is intended to function as a portable first-aid kit. It would be unwieldy to use as a medication dispenser.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,010 to Kogen discloses elements that are similar to previous inventions, but in combination they offer users some additional utility. The device consists of a collapsible drinking cup and a pill container with a plurality of wedge-shaped chambers. The chambers allow medication to be organized by type or into doses. The circular, rotating, planar cover of the container includes an opening through which the medication can be dispensed. The collapsible cup consists of conical nested sections that can be extended to form a leak-proof cup.

A more recent invention is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,081 to Ross. The device consists of a combination pill and water container that retains the solids and liquids in separate, sealed compartments. Though it is an efficient and straightforward design, it does not attempt to accommodate or organize multiple medications.

All of the aforementioned inventions are generally suitable for their intended purposes. Most are relatively simple and offer a measure of utility. However, none of these devices can be customized to accommodate an individual user's specific regimen. Storage capacity is fixed. Additional compartments or volume cannot be added or subtracted to suit user needs. Additionally, all of these inventions require some measure of dexterity to operate. Because elderly and arthritic persons typically lack the muscle strength or motor skills to dispense pills from small containers, filling these compact devices and manipulating the small caps and lids could be problematic and possibly painful.

A few of the inventions disclosed in the prior art have incorporated collapsible cups. This approach allows for a compact design, but the nested cups occupy space in the device that could otherwise be used to store pills. Collapsible cups must also be assembled by the user, which requires dexterity and adds complexity and time to the process of consumption. The Ross device does not require assembly and therefore is somewhat easier to use, but like the other devices it cannot be customized. Additionally, it is designed to be portable and thus can only accommodate a small number of pills.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a dispenser device that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dispenser device having a detachable base, one or more detachable trays, and a detachable cup.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a dispenser device with adjustable capacity and volume.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a dispenser device that can be customized to accommodate a user's specific medication regimen and preferences.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a dispenser device that can be manipulated quickly and with minimal effort.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a dispenser device that can be assembled quickly without fasteners or tools.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a dispenser device that simplifies the process of medication, vitamin, and herbal supplement storage and consumption.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a dispenser device that consumes less shelf or countertop space than other devices with similar capacity and volume.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a dispenser device that is simple in construction and low in cost.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the ensuing description.

SUMMARY

A dispenser device having a detachable base, one or more detachable trays, and a detachable cup is disclosed. The various elements are stackable and can be added or removed to suit user needs and preferences. When the device is fully assembled, the outer sidewalls of the base, trays, and cup form a continuous surface that defines the device exterior.

The base of the invention is generally cylindrical in shape with a flat, circular bottom and a peripheral sidewall that extends vertically to form a cavity. The top of the peripheral sidewall has lateral flanges that permit communication with the bottom of the tray or the cup and allow either of those elements to be stacked, rotated, and secured. A stacked tray or cup can be rotated clockwise to be aligned and secured, or if secured, rotated counter-clockwise to be removed. Stop tabs that extend downward from one end of each flange limit the rotation.

The detachable tray is generally cylindrical in shape with an outlet appendage and peripheral sidewalls that extend both above and below the tray bottom. The upper sidewall extending above the tray bottom forms a hollow cavity into which articles such as tablets and pills may be loaded. The sidewall is interrupted by an aperture that, when the device is fully assembled and a tray is rotated clockwise from its centered position, allows the loaded items to be dispensed through the outlet appendage. Like the base, the tray can be releasably secured to another tray or the cup. The bottom of the tray is configured like the bottom of the cup to permit communication with the top of the base or another tray. In certain embodiments of the invention, the exterior surface of the tray may include letters, numbers, markings, or another means of labeling contents or the invention's various elements.

The detachable cup is generally cylindrical in shape and has a small, convex appendage that, when the cup is stacked atop a tray, covers the outlet appendage of the tray. The cup also includes a recessed cavity extending below the cup bottom. The cavity is defined by a cylindrical sidewall with lateral flanges that permit communication with the top of a tray or the base. In configuration, this lower sidewall of the cup is identical to the sidewall that defines the lower portion of the tray. Thus, relative to the base, the cup and the tray are interchangeable.

It should be noted that the sidewalls and flanges described herein as the means of communication and connection do not constitute a limitation on the present invention. It is within the scope of this invention to include any other means of aligning and releasably securing the base, tray, and cup to each other, such as helical threads, one or more continuous ribs, or sidewalls that simply fit together frictionally.

To suit the user's preferences, the device may be assembled into a configuration consisting of: 1) the base and a tray; 2) the base and the cup; 3) the base, a tray, and the cup; or 4) the base, a plurality of trays, and the cup. The various elements may or may not share the same materials, color, pattern, texture, or surface markings. It should also be noted that the size and shape of the base, tray, and cup as described and illustrated herein do not constitute a limitation on the present invention. Trays, for example, may be manufactured in a wide assortment of sizes and shapes to permit further customization of the device's capacity and volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a first embodiment of a dispenser device having a detachable base, two detachable trays, and a detachable cup formed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2-A is an exploded cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2-B is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the detachable cup of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the detachable tray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the detachable tray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a second embodiment having a detachable base, seven detachable trays, and a detachable cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown at 20 the first preferred embodiment of a dispenser device constructed in accordance with this invention. The device consists of a detachable base 52, two detachable trays 22, and a detachable cup 72.

The base 52 is generally defined by a flat, circular bottom 62 and a continuous perimeter sidewall 54 that extends vertically to form a hollow cavity. Lateral flanges 56 extending outward from the top of the sidewall 54 allow releasable securement to either tray 22 or the cup 72. A flange gap 60 is provided to indicate engagement and alignment in a centered position. Integral hanging stop tabs 58 limit the rotation. A tray 22 or cup 72 can be secured to the base 52 with a clockwise rotation, or if already secured, released and removed with a counter-clockwise rotation.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 the two detachable trays 22 are generally cylindrical and configured to contain, organize, and dispense small articles. The trays 22 are identical in size and shape and interchangeable such that any number of trays 22 may be releasably secured in a vertical stack. Each tray 22 is generally defined by an upper perimeter sidewall 24 that extends above a flat circular bottom 36 to form a hollow cavity into which pills, vitamins, herbal supplements, or other small articles may be loaded. A small aperture 38 allows contents to pass through the perimeter sidewall 24 and into an outlet appendage 32. When uncovered, the outlet appendage 32 enables the contents to be dispensed through an opening 34. Lateral flanges 26 extending outward from the top of the upper perimeter sidewall 24 allow the tray 22 to be releasably secured to another tray 22 or the cup 72. A flange gap 30 is provided to indicate engagement and alignment in a centered position and integral hanging stop tabs 28 serve to limit rotation. The lower portion of the tray is generally defined by a continuous perimeter sidewall 40 extending below the circular bottom 36. The perimeter sidewall 40 allows the tray 22 to communicate with the top of another tray 22 or the base 52. Flanges 42 extending inward from the perimeter sidewall 40 permit the tray 22 to be stacked, rotated, aligned, and releasably secured. The integral raised planar member 44 on the flanges 42 guides the tray 22 to an aligned and centered position. As shown in FIG. 6, any tray secured in an assembled stack may be rotated independently of the other trays, the base, and the cup. In some embodiments, the exterior surface of a tray 22 may incorporate letters, numbers, markings, or another means of labeling contents or the invention's various elements.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cup 72 is tapered and generally cylindrical with a continuous perimeter lip 74 at the rim. This portion of the cup 72 is configured to contain and dispense liquid for drinking. A continuous perimeter sidewall 78 circumscribes the bottom of the cup and provides a means of communication and attachment to a tray 22 or the base 52. Flanges 80 extending inward from the perimeter sidewall 78 permit the cup 72 to be stacked, rotated, aligned, and releasably secured. The integral raised planar member 82 on the flanges 80 guides the cup 72 to an aligned and centered position. A convex appendage 76 at the base of the cup exterior is provided to align with and cover the opening 34 of an attached tray 22 and prevent inadvertent spillage of the tray's contents through the outlet appendage 32.

The present invention may be assembled by the user into multiple configurations. In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the dispenser device consists of the base 52, seven trays 22, and the cup 72. This configuration allows a user to organize a complex regimen of medications, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies by day of the week. Alternatively, in another embodiment not shown, three trays 22 of different color may be used to contain, organize, and dispense three different medications. In yet another embodiment not shown, a dispenser device with four trays 22 may be used to contain, organize, and dispense four identical doses of a medication or medications in combination. In yet another embodiment not shown, a dispenser device having two trays 22 with disparate capacities may be used by two different users to organize and keep separate the medications prescribed for each user. Thus, the device may be assembled into any configuration that best accommodates one or more users, one or more regimens, one or more medications, and one or more dosage intervals. More specifically, an individual tray 22 may be used to contain, organize, and dispense: one particular dosage of one or more medications for one person; all medications to be consumed by one person during a single day of the week; one particular type of medication or supplement; a single article of a single medication; or an assortment of medications or supplements to be consumed by one or more users.

Accordingly, the reader will see that the invention is versatile and has considerable utility. In its various embodiments, the present invention allows users to store, organize, dispense, and consume a wide variety of disparate articles quickly and with minimal effort. Unlike other dispenser devices that require small lids or caps to be repeatedly opened and closed, the present invention can be assembled, disassembled, and operated with a single twist. The cup 72 aids users with consumption and thus provides an additional measure of convenience. The vertical orientation of the stacked elements is similarly beneficial, as it minimizes the footprint of the dispenser device to ensure efficient use of shelf or countertop space. Users can also customize the dispenser device as desired. For example, any number of trays 22 can be added or subtracted to suit the user's medication regimen or preferences.

It will be apparent to others skilled in the art that a variety of modifications to the design or fabrication of the device can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A dispenser comprising: a) a base having a planar bottom and a substantially cylindrical sidewall; b) a plurality of trays, each having a planar bottom, a substantially cylindrical sidewall interrupted by an opening, and an outlet appendage extending outward from the cylindrical sidewall; c) a cup having a planar bottom and a substantially cylindrical sidewall; and d) means for releasably securing said base, said trays, and said cup to each other.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said dispenser is made of plastic.
 3. The dispenser of claim 1, said dispenser comprising said base, one tray, and said cup.
 4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said trays have disparate heights and capacities.
 5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of said trays are marked with indicia.
 6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the releasable securing means comprises a plurality of lateral flanges extending from the cylindrical sidewalls of said base, said trays, and said cup.
 7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the releasable securing means comprises helical threads located on the cylindrical sidewalls of said base, said trays, and said cup.
 8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the releasable securing means comprises a plurality of lateral ribs located on the cylindrical sidewalls of said base, said trays, and said cup.
 9. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the releasable securing means comprises the cylindrical sidewalls of said base, said trays, and said cup, which fit together frictionally. 